Postharvest Processing Technologies for Quality and Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Postharvest Biology, Quality, Safety, and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 1238

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201403, China
Interests: high-pressure processing; postharvest fruits and vegetables; quality preservation

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Guest Editor
Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201403, China
Interests: fruit and vegetables; postharvest preservation; flavor; VOCs
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Guest Editor
College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400175, China
Interests: pulsed electric field; innovative processing of fruits and vegetables; drying technology; microencapsulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores cutting-edge advancements in postharvest technologies designed to enhance the quality and extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. As the global demand for fresh produce rises, minimizing postharvest losses and maintaining nutritional integrity have become critical challenges. This Special Issue covers innovative approaches in this field such as controlled atmosphere storage, edible coatings, advanced packaging solutions, and non-destructive quality assessment techniques. It also addresses the integration of sustainable practices, including biodegradable materials and cold chain equipment.

Contributions from leading researchers and industry experts highlight the use of interdisciplinary strategies to optimize supply chain resilience, reduce waste, and meet consumer expectations for freshness. Case studies on novel applications of nanotechnology, biocontrol agents, and smart sensors provide actionable insights for stakeholders across academia and agribusiness. By synthesizing theoretical frameworks with practical innovations, this Special Issue serves as a comprehensive resource for advancing postharvest science and fostering sustainable food systems.

Dr. Chunfang Wang
Dr. Hongru Liu
Dr. Wei Luo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • postharvest technologies
  • fruit and vegetable preservation
  • cold chain optimization
  • packaging

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 3143 KB  
Review
From Biosynthesis to Regulation: Recent Advances in the Study of Fruit-Bound Aroma Compounds
by Qiaoping Qin, Rongshang Wang, Jinglin Zhang, Chunfang Wang, Hui He, Lili Wang, Chunxi Li, Yongjin Qiao and Hongru Liu
Horticulturae 2025, 11(10), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101185 - 2 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Aroma volatiles constitute the primary molecular basis of fruit flavor quality, governing sensory attributes and marketability. Based on their chemical states, aroma compounds are categorized into bound and free forms. Bound aroma compounds predominantly exist as non-volatile glycosides, which can be hydrolyzed enzymatically [...] Read more.
Aroma volatiles constitute the primary molecular basis of fruit flavor quality, governing sensory attributes and marketability. Based on their chemical states, aroma compounds are categorized into bound and free forms. Bound aroma compounds predominantly exist as non-volatile glycosides, which can be hydrolyzed enzymatically or through acid treatment to release volatile free aroma compounds, thereby enhancing fruit fragrance. Although the dynamic interconversion between free and bound aroma compounds is pivotal for fruit flavor development, the governing mechanisms, including the principal controlling factors, regulatory networks, and external influences, are still under investigation. This review primarily synthesizes recent advances regarding the structural diversity, analysis, biosynthesis, and regulation of bound aroma compounds. Additionally, it examines how key regulatory networks and environmental factors modulate the synthesis and transformation of these compounds. The integrated overview provides new insights for future regulation of aroma metabolism in fruits. Full article
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